A type of preparation for the marriage supper of the Lamb
The countdown of seven weeks for Shavuot begins the first Sunday after Passover, the day the sheaf of the first fruits of the harvest was brought to the high priest, shadowing and symbolizing the resurrection of Yeshua from the dead.

We understand the resurrection with all its implications but who understands the symbolism of counting 50 days? Let us look at the shadow first and then we will be able to understand the vital spiritual implication and instruction for us today.

The counting of the 50 days is now called the "counting of the Omar (sheaf)" which is not biblical term. We all know the excitement of counting down the days and hours of an important event in our lives, counting down the days to our wedding, graduation, holiday, etc. This counting of fifty days to Shavuot is leading us to the most important event in our lives! For the Children of Israel the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, the day Israel entered into a covenant with God and became "The wife of God." This day for us, as we will soon see, is "The marriage supper of the lamb." For Israel this is the day of the receiving of the Law. This is why Orthodox Jews Dress in white, the law represents holiness and the children of Israel had to prepare by washing their clothes and abstaining from sexual relationships. They had to be ritually clean to receive the law. We also have to be clothed in white raiment (Rev: 3, 18) in order to meet our Bridegroom Yeshua.

It is interesting to note that the Old and New covenant were both cut on the same day "Shavuot." On Mount Sinai the Law was written on stone tables, Moses came down the mountain, there was a fight between the worshipers and the Levites and about 3,000 fell. On Shavuot the same day 1,500 years later the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) fell on the 120 in the upper room and the Body of Messiah (Assembly) was born. That day the law was written on the hearts of men (not on stone tablets) and about 3,000 were saved.

According to Rabbinical tradition the children of Israel failed miserably and fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom (Moses) to come down with the law. They failed their bridegroom on the marriage night.  Determined not to fail again, Jews today dress up in white and stay awake all night to atone and compensate for failing their beloved bridegroom.

We too must wait and watch for our bridegroom in order to be wise virgins to meet our Lord. I believe that the parable of the Ten virgins in applicable to believers, not only those living in the generation at the coming of our Lord, but throughout the church age, beginning with the resurrection of our Lord until now. All the virgins slept, even the wise virgins. Therefore counting down the fifty days typifies our preparing ourselves for the biggest day of our lives, the coming of our bridegroom and our marriage to him.

So every year at Shavuot we are reminded of the greatest event in our lives which we are waiting and counting down the days for. We are reminded to stay awake, being ready with oil, being wise virgins. Our prayer is Revelations 3:18; “Clothe us in White so we won’t be ashamed”.

The counting of the 50 days typifies the time of the Gentiles.
It is interesting to note that Naomi and Ruth returned from Moab at the beginning of the Harvest (the day of the sheaf of the first fruit, the resurrection of Yeshua) and Ruth the Gentile bride was married to Boaz, a type of Yeshua, on Shavuot. She was gleaning in the fields for 50 days being prepared by Naomi to marry a Jewish Husband.

Important Parallels,

Naomi is like the Jewish Holocaust survivors. She returns to the land, tired and bitter, thinking God himself is against her. She comes back to the land in despair and at Harvest time.

Ruth brought Naomi grain; Ruth symbolizing the Gentile church is nourishing Naomi (Israel). Today the Messianic Jewish Assemblies in Israel is nourished by the western Gentile Church.

The Gentile church is symbolized by Ruth and Orpah. There are many Churches with the character of Orpah whose name means “uncircumcised” who haven’t taken Naomi’s hand (Israel) and have gone back to her culture and people. Others like Ruth have realized that they are grafted in to Israel and that they can’t have the blessing of the bridegroom without the help of the Jews, who are the natural roots. Every gentile Christian or church will come in the character of Ruth or Orpah. We can’t survive without the support of the Gentile church and the church doesn’t get the bridegroom without the help of the Jew who has returned to the land after exile.

The book of Ruth is read every Pentecost.

King David, according to tradition, both was born and died at Pentecost.
The 7 feasts are likened to the 7 branches of the Menorah. Shavuot being the fourth festival is the middle branch and “servant lamp” the lamp which is used to light and illuminate the other 6 branches. The key to understanding the other 6 feasts is to understand Shavuot.

DOV